The Nigerian government is gearing up to enhance laws aimed at recovering stolen artefacts, according to Olanipekun Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This announcement was made during the 6th Annual General Assembly of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions In Africa (NACIWA) on Monday.
Olukoyede revealed that efforts are underway to bolster both national and regional regulations related to asset recovery. He emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration among anti-corruption agencies across the region to combat corruption more effectively.
The assembly, themed “Implementing the ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption Towards Strengthening Institutions for Regional Unity,” brings together representatives from 14 member countries of NACIWA, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Attendees included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, heads of anti-corruption agencies, ECOWAS representatives, and officials from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In a related development, the Omo N’Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin, recently received two looted Royal stools from the German government. These artefacts, bronze and wooden Royal stools (Ekete), were taken from the Oba’s Palace during the punitive expedition of 1897. They were returned to Nigeria by the German authorities and handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) on May 18, 2024, at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City. The presentation was made by Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of the NCMM, on behalf of the Federal Government.
